BETTER SPACE, BETTER SERVICE – Hoboken’s Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office cut the ribbon on its new office on Thursday. Coldwell moved from its previous space on First Street and Washington Streets to 323 Washington St., a renovated space that includes conference rooms, call centers, resource lounges, and computer rooms designed to increase customer experience and satisfaction. From left: Tracy Devine, Coldwell’s vice president of the North Region, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, and office manager Joe Mamone.

Rent control laws in Hoboken will remain unchanged, now that the Hudson County Clerk’s official vote count determined that a public question altering laws in favor of property owners failed by 122 votes. The county clerk confirmed a week ago Friday just before press time that they had begun counting provisional votes – the final round of votes necessary to determine the results of the election.

On Monday morning, the final count was 5,144 “no” votes to 5,022 “yes” votes.

The question asked voters whether they wanted to change the city’s codes to allow landlords to decontrol rents permanently in apartment buildings with four units or less and just once in buildings with five or more units. The decontrol would happen once a current tenant moved out.

Representatives from the property owners' group who supported the referendum, the Mile Square Taxpayers Association (MSTA) said in a Reporter story this past weekend that they may challenge the result in court, as they did last year.

“With the vote this close, anyone in my position would be unable to accept the results,” said the representative, Ron Simoncini.

Interestingly, it isn’t simply the losers who are currently threatening to take legal action over recent rent control votes. Members of the Hoboken Fair Housing Association (HFHA), who have fought to protect the current rent control laws, confirmed on Monday that they had filed an appeal of a court’s ruling to overturn the 2012 results of the same public question with the New Jersey Supreme Court.

The “no” votes had won that election as well, by 52 votes, but a panel of appellate judges ordered it back on the ballot this summer after landlords argued that voters had been disenfranchised by Hurricane Sandy.

Cheryl Fallick, a representative for HFHA, said that her group was not asking the court to nullify last week’s election in favor of the 2012 result, but said that there were several aspects of the court proceedings related to that election that deserve legal clarification.

For instance, Fallick, as a representative of the “winning” side in 2012, was not immediately allowed to intervene in the proceedings when MSTA appealed the results. However, in an election issue involving candidates, the winning candidate is usually allowed to intervene if his or her opponent challenges a result. No case law exists for public questions, Fallick said.

Hudson Riverkeeper to be keynote speaker at Fund for a Better Waterfront’s annual fundraiser

Paul Gallay, the man tasked with overseeing the ongoing cleanup, health and development of the Hudson River, will be the keynote speaker at the Fund for a Better Waterfront’s annual fundraising gala on Nov. 21, the group announced this week. The theme of this year’s event is “Take Me to the River.”

“The Hudson Riverkeeper has a remarkable story to tell going after polluters of the Hudson River and sparking a movement to clean up rivers across the nation,” the group said in a statement. “The story echoes a similar grassroots effort in Hoboken to preserve its waterfront for the public’s use for generations to come, led by the advocacy efforts of the Fund for a Better Waterfront.”

For nearly half a century, the office of the Hudson Riverkeeper has advocated for clean water initiatives up and down the river which have resulted in the establishment of globally recognized standards for waterway and watershed protection.

The Fund for a Better Waterfront grew out of a successful movement by Hoboken residents in 1990 to stop a deal between the city and the Port Authority that would have resulted in the construction of a massive development on Pier A, which instead became Pier A Park. Since then, the group has served as a watchdog in the ongoing efforts to develop Hoboken’s waterfront, with the goal of having it be fully available for public use.

The gala will take place at 7 p.m. at the Hoboken Elks Club, located at 1005 Washington Street. Artisanal Latin American treats will be provided by Zafra Kitchens and its award-winning chef Maricel Presilla. There will be an open bar and a jazz trio, the Riverview Band. Dessert will be provided by Choc-O-Pain French Bakery & Cafe. Auction and raffle items will be announced soon.

Tickets for the event are on sale for $75 and can be purchased online at http://betterwaterfront.org/take-me-to-the-river. For more information, contact Executive Director Ron Hine at (201) 659-8965 or ron@betterwaterfront.org.

Re/Max Gold Coast raises $10,000 for cancer-stricken youngster

Re/MAX Gold Coast Realty celebrated the massive success of a season-long fundraiser which donated $10,000 to the family of Ari-Anna Jimenez, a young Hoboken resident who is suffering from a rare form of cancer.

The goal for the event was to raise $5,000, which the company’s owner, Daniel M. Voehringer agreed to personally match. More than 100 people attended a charity event to raise money, while other donations were dropped off at the Remax office.

Biggie’s Clam House also hosted a “cashola” night where a percentage of that night’s tabs went to support the cause.

“It was truly an honor for us to be able to help this amazing little girl and her family, and I am so proud of everyone who chipped in, whether by volunteering at the event or making a financial contribution, in order for us to reach our goal,” said Voehringer. “We know this is only a drop in the bucket, but we’re happy to contribute as much as we can, while bringing attention to this family’s need in the hope that others are willing to help as well.”

Ari-Anna’s battle with cancer began in March 2013 when she was diagnosed with Wilms’ Tumor, which is a cancer of the kidneys that typically occurs in children, rarely in adults, and is diagnosed in only approximately 500 patients per year in the U.S.

With early detection and immediate medical attention, the cancer is highly responsive to treatment with survival rates as high as 90 percent, five years out. Ari-Anna has already endured several surgeries, transfusions and chemotherapy, and is doing well, but must continue receiving intensive treatment.

Anyone who would still like to donate, go to Ari-Anna’s website: http://fundly.com/earn-your-wings-help-ari-ana-fight-cancer.

Ali Baba to celebrate 30 years with free Halal food on Sunday

The Ali Baba Restaurant is having a party on Sunday to commemorate 30 years since they first opened their doors.

The restaurant is the second-oldest running restaurant in Hoboken to be owned by the same individual. The restaurant is known for its delicious and healthy (halal) Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. These recipes are known to be from the biblical land of Jerusalem.

The restaurant will be serving free appetizers and desserts to the public. There will also be gift certificate raffle prizes to try the restaurants' cuisine.

The celebration will be Sunday, Nov.17 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/alibabarestauranthoboken or call the restaurant at (201) 653-5319.

Hudson Theatre Ensemble to present ‘The Ugly Duckling’

Hudson Theatre Ensemble’s Silly on Sixth series presents six performances of “The Ugly Duckling” at the Hudson School Performance Space, 601 Park Ave., Hoboken. Performances will be Saturday and Sunday Nov. 23 and 24 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and Sunday Dec. 1 at 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. The show runs about 40 minutes. Tickets are $7 for kids and $10 for adults; 201-377-7014 or reservations@HudsonTheatreEnsemble.com.

The show can also be incorporated into your child’s birthday plans, if they’re born in November. The entire audience will sing Happy Birthday to your child and the kids meet the actors after the show. Call Florence for details at (201) 377-7014.

“The Ugly Duckling” and its all-adult cast will delight children ages 3 to 10 while entertaining their families in the 14th season of the Hudson Theatre Ensemble Children’s Series Silly on Sixth. The child-friendly, ground-floor theater is completely barrier-free and accessible to persons with disabilities.

This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Thomas A. DeGise, County Executive, and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Hudson Animal League announces holiday events, meeting, ‘Santa Paws’

The Hudson County Animal League will be sponsoring its annual “Santa Paws Tree Lighting” 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the Bayonne Library, 31st Street and Avenue C.

“Honor your pet, living or in loving memory, by helping us to decorate the tree,” said spokeswoman Maureen Gallagher. “The star at the top of the tree will signify hope for the area’s homeless animals. And a picture or name ornament will be created of your beloved pet for a donation of $5 or more.”

The tree will be displayed until Jan. 3. For more information, contact Gallagher at (201) 471-7638.

The league will be hosting a Holiday Gift Extravaganza Tricky Tray on Friday, Dec. 6, at St. Michael’s Community Center, 21 East 23rd St., Bayonne, from 7 to 10 p.m. Doors open at 6:30.

Admission is $12, plus a can or more of cat food, and, if possible, a non-perishable item (or more) for the group’s food bank to benefit the needy during the holiday season.

For tickets or more information, call (201) 332-7612.

The league’s next Jersey City meeting is 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Pershing Field Community Center.

Animal lovers and others interested in helping homeless animals in Hudson County are invited to attend.